17 May – Ned Markosian (Massachusetts, Amherst) — “The Dynamic Theory of Time and Time Travel to the Past”

17 May: Ned Markosian (Massachusetts, Amherst) — “The Dynamic Theory of Time and Time Travel to the Past”

Sala Enzo Paci, Via Festa del Perdono 7, h. 16.30-18.30.

Abstract: I argue that time travel to the past is impossible, given a certain metaphysical theory. The metaphysical theory is sometimes called The Dynamic Theory of Time. I offer three different reasons for thinking that The Dynamic Theory is inconsistent with the possibility of time travel to the past. Then I argue that, even if I am wrong about The Dynamic Theory entailing that time travel to the past is impossible, it will still be true that The Dynamic Theory entails that you should not want to travel back to the past.